Need help identifying an iBook...

[Winston]

What Black said. The G3 iBooks had a problem with the solder joints between the video chip and the motherboard. Over time, the heat/cool cycles of the computer warming up during use and cooling off when not in use would crack the solder.

Some people have been able to resurrect these by heating the graphics chip using a variety of methods. This "reflows" the solder joints. An industrial heat gun (paint removal heat gun) has probably been the most popular. But it's not for the faint of heart. iBooks are a pain to take apart. Not unusually hard, but a huge number of tiny screws which have to be put back in in the right order. Then you have to get the right amount of heat for the right amount of time without damaging anything else. A little googling will find you several how-two sites.

When I priced getting a replacement motherboard for my G3 iBook with bad video it was $250 installed. Probably not worth it. It's a shame, because otherwise the G3 iBooks were really nice.


Good luck.

- Winston

[JoeH]

There are a few places out there who will reflow the solder for you. For instance this place, http://www.firstphasetech.com/ibook-repair-g3-g4.html, who will do it for $50 plus $12 shipping and handling if you send them the logic board. I have not used them, but have read some good reports.

[silvarios]

The dual G3 iBooks are so much worse than the G4 iBooks when it comes to video failure. I have yet to see first hand this video failure in G4 iBooks. Not saying it isn't happening, but the G3 models were notoriously flaky. I know several people with working G4 iBooks, I don't know any with working G3 iBooks. Anecdotal? Of course.

Then again, in the last couple of hours of not hitting "Post message", seems others have addressed this issue with actual facts.


Nathan

[Lew Zealand]

Wowsers. I have not had that experience with G3 iBooks. A lot of them, all 12" models. I do Mac IT so maybe most of the people who had their G3 iBook video die just tossed them for a new one and the G4s came to me because in theory they were worth saving. The G4s still will do a good job with OS 10.4 and 10.5 as long as they have 1GB RAM and a newer HD.

The G3 iBooks I have (one 500, two 600s, one 700) are just sitting in a corner doing nothing because they aren't worth the effort to open and put in a working HD. I also have a working 500 with a good HD in it and 640 MB RAM but it's really of little use.

I just gave my Mom a G3/500 Pismo w/1GB RAM and a 5400 RPM HD in it because that Piz is significantly better than even an iBook 600 and is still a capable machine as long as you don't do Internet video and all she needs in the kitchen was web & Word 2004. Real work is done on her Intel Mini.

[timg]

silvarios wrote:
The dual G3 iBooks are so much worse than the G4 iBooks when it comes to video failure. I have yet to see first hand this video failure in G4 iBooks. Not saying it isn't happening, but the G3 models were notoriously flaky. I know several people with working G4 iBooks, I don't know any with working G3 iBooks. Anecdotal? Of course.

Then again, in the last couple of hours of not hitting "Post message", seems others have addressed this issue with actual facts.


Nathan

I've seen the facts posted above, but I personally have a G3/800 that has had no problems and a G4/1.2 that has had the solder issue.

Guess I'm the exception to the rule, eh?

[Winston]

timg wrote:
I've seen the facts posted above, but I personally have a G3/800 that has had no problems and a G4/1.2 that has had the solder issue.

Guess I'm the exception to the rule, eh?

We have 5 G3 iBooks, three 600s and two 500s. The only one which has failed was mine (of course). I give some of the credit to changing cases from a relatively standard lay flat, zip open the top, case to using it in a sleeve in a larger case which put more stress on the edges of the laptop. I think this contributed to the video chip failing.

So based on our experience I wouldn't put the failure rate at 73%. The other two 600s were used by kids who kept them in good cases (most of the time) but used them in all sorts of situations. The 500s were used by my mother and my wife's mother, and were both less and more gently used.

That said, my impression is that the video cards on G3 iBooks will pretty much all fail eventually if they continue to be used. It was as much a design issue as anything else. Some computers probably got an infinitesimally greater amount of solder or cleaner bonds and will last longer.

Given that I never found much advantage to the G4 over the G3 processor, and I am typing this on a G4 TiBook, I'd probably still be using the iBook if it had not died on me. It had a better (if smaller) screen than my 15" TiBook, just as good a keyboard, and easier to reach ports. I have used the IrDA connection on the TiBook a few times with an old cellphone, and a couple of years ago I found the S-video jack handy. Reminds me that the new Mac laptops completely lack standard TV connections. The new laptops may be fast, but they are in some ways less flexible than older models.


Good luck.

- Winston

[silvarios]

Winston wrote:
...a couple of years ago I found the S-video jack handy. Reminds me that the new Mac laptops completely lack standard TV connections. The new laptops may be fast, but they are in some ways less flexible than older models.

My mom's new TV and both of my lower end newish TVs lack an s-video port. No real point. Just a tidbit.


Nathan

[silvarios]

Must suck to be the exception.

[PeterB]

Wow, thanks for all the info guys. It's a G3 iBook, that I know for sure based on what you all have written. Don't know the mhz though.

I'm taking it that you need a mini-VGA adapter? Not the same adapter as used by the MacBook or MBP, right?

[Winston]

Yes, you need a mini-VGA adapter. Officially a "VGA Display Adapter." One in the middle in photo here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2721

At Apple store and elsewhere new, probably much less used or eBay.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/M8639G/A

I am pretty sure all the G3 iBooks came with one. If you know anyone with an old G3 iBook they probably have one in a drawer somewhere.

But as mentioned above, it won't work if the video chip is down.

Good luck.

- Winston